Switching device.



D. D. GORDON.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

APPLIOATIOH rum) OGT.5,1911.

2 BHEETSBHEET l.

fizz/fem wimbm D. D. GORDON.

SWITOHING DEVIOE.

APPLIUATION FILED OUT. 5, 1911.

1,13%129' Patented Man 9, 1915;

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

fig "'y 4 ill ith

.IDA'VED ID. GORDON, F GHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO YGST ELECTRIC MANUFAC- FUELING- COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1! 4. 1 A l merited-Blair. :3, 19? 5.

Application filed October 5, 1911. Serial No. 852,943.

and has for its object the provision of an improved device of this character which is in which-the of the quick brealr variety and reduced td a number of parts required is minimum.

My invention is of a broad character and can be used in a variety of different forms of switching devices, but I will herein describe two specific forms of my invention as applied more particularly to a pendant switch, although not in any way intending thereby to limit myself to such application or to the particular forms of the switching devices utilized as my form of switch mechanism is adjustable to socket switches, wall switches and in fact any form of allied switch mechanism. These particular forms of my invention, 1 will now describe in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Figure 1 is a view of one of the halves of the casing showing the switch elements; Fig. 2 is a view of the same with'the parts in an alternative position; Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line a-a of Fig. 2; Fig. 4; is a sectional view on line b-b of Fig. 2;.Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modification; Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5, the parts being shown in alternative position; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line cc of F g. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line b-o of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is a top view with the cover removed.

My improved switch as shown in Figs. 1 to l is made of two halves 1 and 2 preferably of insulating material held together by means of screws 3 and 4:. Within section 1 a contact element 5 and within section 2 a contact element (3 is mounted and held in place by means of screws 7 and 8 which serve the time to secure the ends of the entering luc conductors 9 and 10 entering throng he aperture 11 semi-circular in each half so to produce a circular entering aperture for these wires 9 and 10. in order to make crurtact between the si'itch devices 5 and 3 l employs ball 12,which call when in the position snownin Fig. 2 engages the contacts 5 and (5 to close circuit therethrough and when occupying the posicion of l 1g. 1 1s reu'rove l from these contact elements 5 and (3 so that the circuit through these contacts is uncompleted. in order to move the ball from one position to its alternative position and vice versa through some suitable snap action, I provide a coiled sprin 13 having its last convolution 1-4: of somewhat larger diameter than the remaining convolutions, and which spring 13 has its last and enlarged convolution engaging the hall 12 by resting thereagamst. The other end of the sprinp 13 is held in a hole 1.3 provided in a plunger 16, which plunger slides to and fro horizontally and occupies one or the other of its positions illustrated in'l igs. 1 and 2. projection 17 forming part of the casing 2 confines the stroke ol the plunger 16. Semicircular recesses are prr'u'ided in eachof the halves 1 and 2 which together form a circular bore within which the plunger 16 may slide. llow assuming that the parts are n the position occupied in Fig. 1, then if it be desired to move the hall 12 into such position that it engages the contacts 5 and 6, then said plunger 16 1) is moved toward the right until the spring 13 occupies a substantially vertical position between the ball 12 and the recess 15 and a slight further movement toward the right will immediately cause the confined spring to exert its pressure to violently and quickly throw the ball 12 to the left into the position occupied in Fig. 2 and likewise exert a spring action to complete the movement of the plunger 16 toward the right so that the parts then occupy the position shown in Fig. 2. Now if it is desired to open the circuit through these contact elements, then the plunger 16 (Fig. must be moved toward the left and the same action, but in reverse order, talres place, namely that the spring 13 is again moved to occupy sub stantially vertical position between the hall 12 and the aperture 15, and then a further slight movement toward. the left will cause the confined spring to be liberated by othering it an opportunity to thrust the ball 12 to the right which it does at the same time e eriingg spring pressure against, the plunger 3. so complete its movemeni toward the left s that the parts may occupy ihe position of Fig. 1. It will thus be seen shot by means of a. very simple structure set forth herein, size plunger 16- in combination with the spring 1312s adapted to move she ball 12 violenely from one position to its alternative position and vice versa. The snap action required to effect a quick break is here ob-- tained by means oi a very small number of hares and the eificacy of the contact may be readily controlled by the strength of the spring 13, likewise by the size of the exposed portions of the contacts 5 and 6.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive I show a modification in which the preferably insulating shell and body portion of the switch consists of a body portion 18 and cap 19 having screw threaded engagement therewith and a rotatable operating element 20, 'vvhich rotatable operating element has a grooved portion 21 and is held in the body portion 18 by means of the U shaped form 22 Whose tines project through the opposite Walls of the body portion 18. The element 20has a recess 23 to suppers a springli-l,

which spri;=.g engages the ball 12. The terminal Wires 9 and 10 again extend by means of screws '7 and 8 to contact terminals 5 and 6 which project into a runway provided for the ball 12 within a grooved portion 24 of she upper *part of the body portion 18. A slight indentation at 25 is provided for the ball 12 at that portion of its stroke Where it engages the terminals 5 and (3 to more thoronghly hold it in its limiting position at that point. The ball 12 thus slides trans versely across the element 18 within the groove 24 and the recess 25. When the ole-- mer t 20'is rotated similarly to the action described in connection with the element 16,

the ball 12 is moved from one of its limiting positions to the other by snap action. While that end of the spring 13 that rests Within the groove 23 describes a circular motion when the element 20 is rotated, the hall 12 in response to these movements of the spring reciprocates back and forth Within the groove 24.- as will be clearly apparent. I

memesam thus enabled. 31o gel? a she? ecilion by rototing the controlling element instead of reciproca'zing the same as shown the strnc- Cure illustrased in Figs. Ii so 4: inclusive While 1 have'herein shown and particularly described one embodiment of my invention, I do nor, mean to limit, myself to such description and illustration, but

Having thus described one form of carrying out my invention what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Paoen is:

1. A device of she character described having a contact terminal, a spherical. con: tact element for said termii l, a runway for said element, a coiled spring engaging said element, and a reciprocating plunger for controlling fiche free end oi said spring so shat a movement of said free end in onedirection moves said element by snap action into engagement with said terminal and a movement in the opposite direction moves said. eleinenc away from. said terminal A device character described l'iaving contact terminal, a slidable contact element for said terminal a rnnwa "for said 2 element, a coiled spring engaging said element, and a reciprocating plunger for coriiroiling rho free end said to corn press the same and move is beyond its position of repose to thereby move said element. from either limiting position to the other by snap acsion.

3: A device of. the character described having a contact. terminal, a spherical con .tact element for said. terminal a runway for said element, a coiled spring engaging said elen ieni, and a reciprocaiing plunger .ior controlling the free end of said spring-co compress the same and move ii; beyond its position of repose to thereby move said element from either limiting posiiion so the other by snap action:

In wieness whereof, I :61 my name iliis 28ih day of So 1911.

"unto subscribe member, A. Q,

DAVID B. GGRDQN. Witnesses him: W. Essen; HAZEL Jones ill 

